“He beats her?” Tadhg asked, sickened by the thought.
“I couldn’t say, Laird. While I don’t think anyone has beaten her recently, some of her scars aren’t terribly old. I just thought ye should know.”
He nodded and continued on into the great hall in search of Lady Katherine. He found her as Elspet had said, sitting by the hearth, her needlework in her hands.
~ * ~
As Laird Matheson approached, Katherine clearly saw the concern in his expression. “My lady, I understand ye wished to speak with me, but I need ask ye something first. Elspet tells me ye have scars on your back. Does MacIan beat ye?”
“Oh, by all the saints, of course not. Niall would never hurt me. My Uncle Ambrose gave me those scars.”
“Ambrose Ruthven?”
“Aye.”
“If I ever see him again, I may have to kill him.”
“Kill him over whipping his niece, whom you kidnapped? I think if your house is made of glass, you’d best not throw stones.”
Tadhg threw his head back and laughed. “Ye are a feisty bit of goods, my lady.”
When he had stopped laughing, Katherine said, “Laird Matheson, I need to talk to you about, this—this whole situation.”
“Which situation, specifically?” he asked, sobering. “Your husband’s raids on my land, my taking ye as a hostage, or the fact that ye let me lock an expectant mother up like a prisoner?”
Shocked, Katherine snapped her head up at his last comment.
“Elspet is very observant,” Tadhg said by way of explanation.
“Well, I am a prisoner, so I don’t see how your last point is relevant, and I haven’t exactly been locked up, but it is the first two that concern me. Laird Matheson—”
Exasperated he said, “Please, call me Tadhg.”
Katherine ignored him and continued, “There is something very wrong. My husband did not instigate the raids on your land. He was only retaliating for raids against us.”
“Lass, I know ye would like to believe—”
“Nay, hear me out. He did not start the raids. This last one was in response to a brutal attack on our border. The animals weren’t stolen, they were slaughtered, dwellings were burned, and three clansmen were killed the day after Epiphany.”
“And he thinks I did that?”
“Every indication was that ye did.”
“That is ludicrous,” he said, his ire rising. “That kind of destruction serves no purpose. He has raided me numerous times over the last year. I didn’t retaliate last winter or spring because I had heard of the MacIan’s financial troubles. I wasn’t going to steal food from their mouths. The fact is, I have only led one raid on MacIan lands and it was this past fall, well after their financial issues had been solved.” Tadhg gave her a pointed look and continued, “and they were still raiding my land.”
“If ye weren’t behind the raids, who was and why?”
“I can only guess someone wanted to provoke your husband into attacking me.”
“What would be gained by that?”
“I’m not sure. I can certainly withstand such an attack. The only thing it would really do is weaken the MacIans.”
“But Niall knew that. He wasn’t considering attacking ye. We received word ye were planning to lay siege to Duncurra.”
“That is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I have no intention of laying siege to Duncurra,” Tadhg said vehemently. “I have no interest in Duncurra at all. Who told ye this?”
“Two days ago, Laird MacLennan arrived at Duncurra and told Niall an attack from ye was imminent. He said ye were planning to lay siege close to Candlemas, and convinced Niall I would be safer at Brathanead.”
“He said Candlemas? Are ye sure?
“Aye.”
“And when did Niall make the decision for ye to travel to Brathanead?”
“Two days ago, when Malcolm came with news of the siege.”
“Katherine, I found out more than a week ago ye would be traveling to Brathanead yesterday.”
“That is not possible. As I said, Niall only decided after Malcolm came, two days ago. I left with Laird MacLennan yesterday morning. How could ye have known for a week?”
“The wife of one of my clansmen is a MacLennan. She returned from visiting her sister with news that Laird MacLennan was having a huge feast for Candlemas and ye would be accompanying Lady MacIan.”
“What? I would not go to Brathanead for a celebration without Niall. In fact, I would never have willingly accompanied Eithne anywhere alone. I didn’t want to this time, but Niall insisted because he was afraid for my safety. Malcolm convinced him not to escort me by telling him your attack could come at any time, so he shouldn’t risk being away from Duncurra even for a day.”